6 Classic Pieces From Grandma’s Dining Room That Will Never Go Out Of Style

Think the pieces that your Grandma featured in her dining room years ago are no longer relevant today? Think again. Many pieces that you might remember seeing at her home during your childhood visits and holiday gatherings are coming back into style (or are considered classics) and will look lovely in your current home, too.

Read on below to learn more about six traditional dining room fixtures that Southern designers are eager to incorporate into today’s spaces.

Classic Side Chairs

Everyone appreciates a good combination of vintage and modern, so why not style some of your grandmother’s classic side chairs along with a set of more contemporary host and hostess chairs? Dawn Hearn, the founder of Dawn Hearn Interior Design in Austin, Texas, suggests doing just that. “The mix of chairs creates an opportunity to create a great focal point in the room and visually anchor the dining table,” she says.

Candlesticks

Candlesticks are one dining room item that “will be evergreen from generation to generation,” says Sara Brennan, the founder of Sara Lynn Brennan Interiors in Weddington, North Carolina. “We will often collect several styles of different metals and tones from vintage or antique shops to bring layers and height to the dining table,” she says. Feel free to weave some flowers and greenery into the mix for a romantic look if you wish, the designer adds.

Classic China, Glassware, And Silver

If you were lucky enough to inherit china, glassware, and silver pieces from your grandmother, make an effort to actually use these pieces rather than letting them collect dust in the cupboard.

“It brings beautiful character and breaks up the ‘new’ feel that dining rooms can have,” Brennan says.

When these items are not in use, Brennan enjoys displaying them out in the open.

“I love to style an adjacent sideboard or bar with a beautiful pitcher or decanter and highball and lowball glasses,” she says. “You just cant find some of the styles and shapes they used to have around years ago.”

Allison Smith, the founder of Allison Smith Interiors in Greenville, South Carolina, agrees that heirloom glassware, such as crystal wineglasses, are extremely special. “Whether you’re raising a toast or just letting them sparkle on a shelf, they add that perfect touch of timeless charm,” she says. “These treasures connect the past to the present in the most beautiful way.”

Wedgwood China

Maybe there is a specific type of china that your grandmother always used that is now a collector’s item. Amy Vermillion has been pleased to display some heirloom Wedgwood pieces her home, including both plates and vases.

“This china is so special to me because it reminds me so much of my Grammy,” says the founder of Amy Vermillion Interiors in Charlotte. The plates Vermillion received from her grandmother are Wedgwood’s Patrician Torbay Green design, featuring English pastoral scenes. “There are several different scenes and I am fortunate enough to have at least one of each,” the designer says.

Case Pieces

Traditional case pieces, such as sideboards, china cabinets, and credenzas, can still look beautiful in today’s dining rooms, explains Ashley DeLapp.

That said, don’t be afraid to give yours a little TLC if you wish.

“Depending on the space, I often lacquer an antique piece to give it new life and add a clients’ own personality to it,” says the founder of Ashley DeLapp Interior Design in Charlotte.

Heather Garrett, the founder of Heather Garrett Interior Design in Raleigh, North Carolina, shares similar sentiments.

“Over time, I’ve seen that a Victorian sideboard never dies,” she says. “Its scale and substance, with turned legs and ornate carving, is decidedly elegant in stained mahogany in a traditional setting—or undeniably chic in gleaming lacquer with antiqued hardware for a softly modern take.”

Dining Tables

Last but certainly not least, don’t underestimate how good your grandmother’s dining table might look in your current home.

“Dining tables that are inherited from our grandmothers are not just pieces of furniture but ultimately timeless bridges between generations,” says Susan Hill, the founder of Susan Hill Design Group in Charlotte. “There is a story that comes with it.” Best of all, Hill adds, these tables were not mass-produced and are likely made from sturdy oak, walnut, or cherry. “It can be given new life by a skilled refinisher or can be paired with modern chairs or clean lighting to fit the aesthetic you live with,” she adds.